Speaking Practice – Talk About Your Experience in English

Section 1: Introduction / はじめに

When someone asks "Tell me about your experience," they want a short, clear summary of your work history.

Learning to answer this question well is important. A clear, confident answer makes a strong first impression. It shows you can communicate in English and that you understand what the job requires.

この質問は日本語で言えば「これまでの経験を教えてください」という意味です。面接や職場での自己紹介など、さまざまな場面で使われます。この質問にスムーズに答えられると、相手に良い第一印象を与えることができます。英語力だけでなく、自分の仕事への理解も伝わるので、とても大切な表現です。

When will you use this? / いつ使う場面があるの？

Here are 6 real situations where you will hear this question:

1. A job interview: The most common place. The interviewer wants to know your background quickly.
   最も多い場面です。面接官はあなたの経歴を手早く知りたがっています。
2. A networking event: When you meet a new business contact and want to introduce yourself professionally.
   新しいビジネスの知り合いに、プロフェッショナルに自己紹介したいとき。
3. A casual conversation with a new colleague: On your first day at a new company, someone may ask what you have done before.
   新しい会社の初日に、これまで何をしていたか聞かれることがあります。
4. A team meeting with a new client: You may need to briefly explain your background before starting a project.
   プロジェクトを始める前に、簡単に自分の経歴を説明する必要があるとき。
5. A university or training program interview: Admissions staff often ask about your work or study experience.
   入学審査の担当者が、仕事や学業の経験についてよく尋ねます。
6. A phone or video call interview: Remote interviews often begin with this exact question.
   リモート面接では、まさにこの質問から始まることがよくあります。

Why is this skill important? / なぜ大切なの？

Knowing how to answer this question well helps you:

• Make a strong, confident first impression — 自信を持って良い第一印象を与えられる
• Show that you can communicate clearly in English — 英語でしっかり伝えられることを示せる
• Prove you understand what the job or role requires — 仕事や役割への理解を示せる
• Sound natural and prepared, not like you memorized a script — 暗記した感じではなく、自然に聞こえる
• Build trust quickly with interviewers, clients, and new colleagues — 面接官やクライアント、同僚と素早く信頼関係を築ける

2. Core Language Pattern / 基本の言い方

A strong answer uses this 4-part structure:

1. Say how long and in what field → I have [number] years of experience in [field].
2. Give your job title → I've worked as a [job title].
3. Describe what you actually did → I was mainly responsible for [task].
4. Show what you learned → This helped me develop [strength/skill].

The Template / テンプレート

この4つのパートを順番に話すだけで、まとまりのある答えになります。「何年」「どんな仕事」「何を担当していたか」「何を学んだか」の4点を意識しましょう。

What Each Part Means / 各パートの意味

"I have [number] years of experience in [field]" → Tells the listener how long you have worked and in what area.
"I've worked as a [job title]" → Gives your role a clear name so the listener understands your level.
"I was mainly responsible for [task]" → Describes what you actually did every day.
"This helped me develop [strength]" → Shows what you learned — this is the part that connects your past to the job you want now.

「何年」の部分は経験の長さと分野を伝え、「役職名」の部分はレベルを伝えます。「担当業務」は毎日の実際の仕事内容、「学んだこと」は過去の経験と今回の仕事をつなげる、最も大切な部分です。

3. Vocabulary Bank / 単語リスト

Here are 35 essential words and phrases extracted directly from the study guide:

Work History / 職歴

Responsibilities / 担当業務

Skills and Results / スキルと成果

Interview Context / 面接の言葉

4. Useful Phrases by Function / 場面ごとの便利なフレーズ

① Starting Your Answer / 話し始める表現

② Describing Your Job History / 職歴を説明する表現

③ Describing Your Responsibilities / 担当業務を説明する表現

④ Talking About Results and Skills / 成果とスキルを伝える表現

⑤ Connecting Past Experience to the New Job / 今回の仕事につなげる表現

5. Three Example Conversations / 会話例3パターン

Conversation 1: Office Job Interview — Customer Support Role

Setting: A formal interview at an office. The interviewer is Sarah, an HR manager.

Conversation 2: Networking Event — New Professional Contact

Setting: A business networking event. You are chatting with Kenji, a product manager at a tech company. The atmosphere is casual and friendly.

Conversation 3: First Day at a New Company — Meeting a New Colleague

Setting: The break room on your first day at a new job. Your new colleague, Emma, comes to say hello.

6. Naturalness Tips / 自然な答え方のコツ

Tip 1: Short answers sound weak. Longer answers sound confident. / 短すぎる答えは自信がなさそうに聞こえる

Tip 2: Use connectors to link your ideas naturally / つなぎの言葉を使う

Tip 3: Turn a boring list into a story. / 箇条書きではなく、自然な会話のように話す

7. What to Avoid / 避けること

8. Practice Template / 練習テンプレート

Worked Case Scenarios

Worked Example 1 — Nurse (Medical field):
"I have five years of experience in nursing. I've worked as a registered nurse at a general hospital. I was mainly responsible for patient care on a general ward. I also helped with medication management and supporting new nursing staff. This experience helped me develop both my clinical skills and my ability to stay calm under pressure."

Worked Example 2 — Office Administrator (Admin field):
"I have two years of experience in office administration. I've worked as an administrative assistant at a mid-sized company. I was mainly responsible for scheduling, document management, and internal communication. I also helped organize company events and supported the HR team. This experience helped me become much more organized and detail-oriented."

Worked Example 3 — Software Developer (IT field):
"I have four years of experience in software development. I've worked as a junior developer at a web agency. I was mainly responsible for front-end development and bug fixing. I also supported our team with code reviews and documentation. This experience helped me improve my problem-solving skills and learn how to work well with different types of teams."